A STRONG showing with the bat helped Knowle and Dorridge Cricket Club remain top of the table with a hard-fought four-wicket win against Berkswell.
Half-centuries from Hamza Shaikh (70) and Marques Ackerman (53) put Knowle on top before James Middleton (46 not out) steered the visitors to victory.
That came after K and D bowled their opponents out for 226 in 54.1 overs to take 24 points from the fixture and stay top of the Birmingham and District Premier League Division One table.
Ethan Brookes (2-45) made an immediate impact with the ball to remove Berkswell opener Ajay Shingadia (0) with the third ball of the innings.
However, Berkswell recovered courtesy of a 50-run second-wicket partnership before Chris Cheslin (2-26) struck twice in quick succession to restrict the home side to 66-3.
Wickets continued to fall with regularity as Mohammed Umar Shaikh (3-56) and Jack Grundy (2-50) claimed valuable scalps although Will Rhodes (69) top scored for Berkswell with an impressive knock.
And Berkswell’s tail order batters Josh Croom (27) and Adnaan Riaz (14) provided some late resistance to help the hosts reach 226 all out as Shaikh (1-21) claimed the final wicket.
In reply, K and D lost two wickets for 41 runs as opener Amir Khan (27) and Brookes (1) fell to the bowling of Ryan Sidebottom (1-61) and Rhodes (2-34) respectively.
However, an 88-run third-wicket stand between Shaikh and Ackerman put Knowle in command as the visitors reached 129-3.
Alex Phillips fell cheaply to Riaz (2-27) before Middleton guided Knowle over the line supported by Grundy (16 not out) to seal a four wicket win in the 49th over.
